Suggested Responses to Nottingham City Council

Putting a maximum limit on the amount of council tax support that can be paid to all working age people – where everyone would pay at least 20% towards their Council Tax bill.

Q1Do you agree or disagree with this proposed change?

Strongly Disagree

Capping the Council Tax support to 80% and property band restrictions

Q2 Do you agree or disagree with this proposed change?

Strongly Disagree

Reducing the upper savings limit from £16,000 to £6,000

Q3 Do you agree or disagree with this proposed change?

Strongly Disagree

Removing the Second Adult Rebate

Q4 Do you agree or disagree with this proposed change?

Strongly Disagree

Removing back-dating

Q5 Do you agree or disagree with this proposed change?

Strongly Disagree

Setting a minimum award level

Q6Do you agree or disagree with this proposed change?

Strongly Disagree

Recognising the needs of particular households

Q7Do you agree or disagree with this proposal?

Don’t know

Q8 Do you think that some households should get more support than others?

Don’t know

Q9If ‘yes’, which of these options do you think we should consider to pay for this extra support?

Other

If other, please say:

Questions 7, 8 and 9 are slanted questions. Yes, some households will need more support than others based on their needs and paid in accordance with the existing Council Tax Benefit system, but this should not be used to separate groups into “deserving” and “non-deserving”. The present system provides benefit to people with a wide range of needs and different circumstances. None of these groups should be excluded, and neither should there be an “across the board” cut for any or all groups. The present system, based on the needs of the people of Nottingham, should be allowed to continue and not be cut by an arbitrary figure by central government.

Q11Do you have any other comments about the proposed scheme or how it may affect you and your household?

[If you claim Council Tax Benefit:] This scheme will have a serious effect on me and my household (explain why)......

[If you do not claim Council Tax Benefit:] This scheme will have a serious effect on my family/friends who claim Council Tax Benefit. (explain impact – eg. things they won’t be able to afford, stress, )

And this only the beginning. If you - Nottingham City Council - cave into the government on this issue, there will be further cuts next year. This will send the government a green light to get rid of Council Tax Benefit altogether. I am urging you, as my representatives in local government, to refuse to pass on this cut to Nottingham City residents, and to demand from the government the full amount of benefit that was paid in previous years.

you are responding as a resident, please answer the next few quest

Q25How do you think Nottingham City Council can make sure that the scheme is fair for all sections of the community?

Cutting Council Tax Benefit in this economic climate is not fair. It hits some of the poorest and most vulnerable people. The government’s plan to reduce benefits is part of an agenda to make the 99% pay for the Banker’s crisis and to make benefits so awful that people will work for as little as employers want to pay. Hardly surprising, some in the government want to get rid of the minimum wage. The government is not concerned about “fairness” for all sections of the community. Nottingham City and all other councils should do everything in their power to refuse to pass on central government cuts on and should stand firm to pay Nottingham residents according to their benefit needs based on the existing system. The council should commit to not pursuing people who cannot afford their council tax.